AOIFE BEARY, WHO survived the balcony collapse in Berkeley that killed six young people last year, has spoken out about how much she misses her friends.

She was speaking at a public senate hearing in Sacramento, California earlier today.

Politicians were discussing new legislation that will require building contractors to report previous convictions for poor safety records.

The group of young people were celebrating Aoife’s 21st birthday on 16 June 2015 when the tragedy occurred.

“I miss my friends so much, I have known them since we started school together at four years of age. We had grown up together and now my birthday will always be their anniversary,” Aoife said.

In her emotional testimony, she spoke about her injuries which included a brain injury, broken arms, hands, pelvis and ribs, and a collapsed lung. She also needed open heart surgery.

“None of this needed to happen,” she said.

Students Eimear Walsh, Ashley Donohue, Olivia Burke, Niccolai Schuster, Lorcán Miller and Eoghan Culligan died, while several others suffered life-changing injuries.

Aoife’s mother Angela also spoke at the hearing, saying:

“I know that I speak now on behalf of all the 13 families when I say that as a result of the balcony collapse all our lives have been irrevocably changed and life will never be the same for us again.”

Read: ‘My daughter and her friends should still be alive’

Read: A year on, the friendship and love of six young students is remembered